The use of the global activity limitation Indicator and healthy life years by member states and the European Commission.

Background: In 2005, the European Union (EU) started to use a disability-free life expectancy, known as Healthy Life Years (HLY), to monitor progress in the strategic European policies such as the 2000 Lisbon strategy. HLY are based on the underlying measure: the Global Activity Limitation Indicator (GALI). Twelve years after its implementation, this study aims to assess its current use in EU Member States and the European Commission.

Are men aging as oaks and women as reeds? A behavioral hypothesis to explain the gender paradox of French centenarians.

Since the 1990s, several studies involving French centenarians have shown a gender paradox in old age. Even if women are more numerous in old age and live longer than men, men are in better physical and cognitive health, are higher functioning, and have superior vision. If better health should lead to a longer life, why are men not living longer than women? This paper proposes a hypothesis based on the differences in the generational habitus between men and women who were born at the beginning of the 20th century.

Persistence of abnormal cortisol levels in elderly persons after recovery from major depression.

Background: Cortisol hypersecretion is characteristic of acute clinical depression, but little is known in fully recovered, non-treated elderly persons with a lifetime history of depression. This study was designed to examine patterns of diurnal cycle of cortisol in an elderly cohort without current depression or treatment for depression according to whether the person has or has not experienced a previous episode of depression or co-morbid depression with anxiety.

Methods: Cortisol secretion was evaluated in 162 community-dwelling elderly on a stressful and a non-stressful day (basal level).

Abnormal reactions to environmental stress in elderly persons with anxiety disorders: evidence from a population study of diurnal cortisol changes.

Background: Cortisol secretion in elderly persons with anxiety disorders exposed to common stressful situations has not been evaluated.

Methods: Salivary-free cortisol levels were evaluated at 8, 15, and 22 h, in 201 elderly subjects during stressful and non-stressful days. Psychiatric symptomatology was assessed by a standardized psychiatric examination (MINI).